Sarah Ramowski, MSW

Adolescent Health Section

Oregon Public Health

April 22, 2010

PYD Progress in an Imperfect World

I. Measuring Positive Youth Development− The What, How, and Why of

Benchmarking?− Results

II. Moving the PYD Agenda− Statewide Partnership− Localized Changes

III. Lessons Learned: Advice for Other States

− Measure, measure, measure!− Use what you have

The Beaver State

• 3,690,505 people living on 98,386 square miles

• Oregon has 21.3% of its population living in rural areas.

• 86.6% of the population is Caucasian

• 29% of youth had an unmet physical or mental health care need in the past year

Benchmarking in Oregon

1989 Beginning of Benchmarking

Annual, measurable goals tied to state strategic plan

1992-3 Link benchmarks to state agencies (273)

2001 Oversight of process put in statute

2005 90 benchmarks (7 categories)

Public accountability at state & county level

http://benchmarks.oregon.gov

Positive Youth Development Benchmark

Who:

• State Public Health Division

• Oregon Progress Board

• State & Local Commissions on Children & Families

What:

Positive Youth Measures + Youth Risk Measures = Balanced Picture of Youth Well-Being

How:

Use existing State-level youth survey (Oregon Healthy Teens survey/Oregon’s YRBS)

PYD Benchmark QuestionsComponent Question

Competence “I can do most things if I try.”

Confidence “I can work out my problems.”

Health “In general, would you say your [physical/emotional] health is…?”

Support “There is at least one teacher or other adult at my school that really cares about me.”

Service “I volunteer to help others in my community.”

PYD Benchmark vs. Risk

Hypothesis: If our questions capture PYD, we will find a strong association between higher levels of PYD and:

• Lower levels of risk

• Higher levels of healthy behaviors

Results

• Lower scores on PYD questions STRONGLY ASSOCIATED with higher scores on risk behaviors

• Eating fruits & veggies, getting recent physical activity, getting better grades, not using drugs are all associated with higher levels on PYD questions

Adopted Benchmark

• Must answer at least 5 of 6 questions “positively” to meet benchmark

• “The Percent of Teens who report positive youth development attributes; a) 8th grade; b) 11th grade.”

Benchmark Results% of Students Meeting PYD Benchmark

65% 64% 64% 64%69% 70% 69% 69%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

2006 2007 2008 2009

8th 11th

Benchmark & Risk (2009 data)

Nutrition Phys Activity

Suicide Sexual Activity

Tobacco Use

8th gr. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

11th gr.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Drug Use Alcohol Use

Fight @ school

Unsafe @ school

Grades

8th gr. * * * * * * NS * * * * * *

11th gr. * * * * * * * * * * * * *

* = p < .05 ** = p < .001 *** = p < .0001

PYD & Grades Predicted Probability for C, D or F grades (8th grade)

0.71

0.60

0.48

0.36

0.250.17

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

0 or 1questions

2 3 4 5 6questions

State Policy Implications

• Formalizes State’s commitment to PYD

• Provides a baseline source for future state tracking

• Determining future funding priorities

Local Policy Implications

• Support for youth programs that have PYD framework (i.e, Oregon Mentors, Youth Bill of Rights)

• Local assessment based on benchmark is possible

Moving the PYD Agenda

3 Goals of BPY Project for Oregon:

1.Training

2.Partnership

3.Evaluation/data collection

Building Statewide Partnership Capacity

Start of the PYD Alliance

• Passion & interest, not always resources

• Keep momentum going around State

Who is at the table?

Wide array of partners

• Local Public Health/Social services

• State Agencies

• Youth-Serving Orgs (4-H, Afterschool, Camp Fire)

Goals of Alliance

• Act as advising body to public & private orgs on youth policy & practice coordination

• Coordinate and plan trainings, work sessions on youth engagement

• Infuse youth engagement with principles of cultural competency

Localized Action Items

Adolescent Health Section took steps where possible

• Big Picture: Statewide Youth Sexual Health Plan

• Influencing the Details: Infusing PYD into SBHC Planning Grants

Lessons Learned

• Measure, Measure, Measure!−And teach others to measure

too…

• Use what you have

• Progress can have many definitions

Questions??

Thank You!

Sarah.Ramowski@state.or.us

(971) 673-0377